Safety lighting device



Aug. 13, H. A. MANTZ SAFETY LIGHTING DEVICE Filed June 25. 1932 Patented Aug. ,13, 1935 PATENT OFFICE 2,011,111 SAFETY LIGHTING DEVICE Harold A. Manta, Milwaukee, Wis, assignor to Milwaukee Gas Specialty Company, Milwaukee, Wis a corporation-of Wisconsin Application June 2.3, 1932, Serial No. 818,957 9 Claims. (01. 158-l17.1)

This invention relates to safety lighting devices,

' and more particularly to safety lighting devices" provided with pressure regulating mechanism.

In a preferred form of the invention, I have provided a lighting device, comprising a pilot flame adapted to ignite a plurality of surrounding. gas burners, a pressure regulating valve, and thermally sensitive means-for shutting off the fuel supply to the burners and the pilot flame upon extinguishment of the pilot flame, embodied in an ordinary type of domestic gas range, but it is to be understood that the device is equally applicable to other types of gas burning appliances.

In appliances of this type, it has been found that there is a variation'in the performance of the appliance',-due to pressure, specific gravity,

and the B. t.'u. value of-the gas. The specific gravity and B. t. u. value of the'g'as cannot be controlled at the appliance, but the pressure can be so regulated as to prevent gas being supplied to the burner at a pressure in excess of that desired.

The present invention'is directed to a pressure" regulating device, in combination witha pilot flame, which device functions to shut off flow of fuel to the gas manifold and'to the pilot flame port should the pilot flame be accidently extinguished, and which also serves to limit the pres- This valve' lsof the weighted diaphragm type,

and by its free movement the pressure of the gas flowing to the device is regulated, this pressure being determined by the weight ofthediaphragm.

A further feature of the invention is theprovision of a spring actuated collar, which is'held in depressed'position by means of a thermally responsive latching mechanism, and which, when released, actuates mechanism to close oil the fuel supply to the pilot flame port. This pilot, in conjunction with the weighted diaphragm valve. controls the fuel supply in such manner that the fuel supply to the gas manifold and to the pilot flame port is shut off upon release of the thermally responsive latching mechanism.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear more fully from the detailed description, which, together with the accompanying drawing, will disclose to those skilled in theart the particular construction andoperation of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawing: g 10 Figure l is a perspective view 'of an ordinary type of domestic gas range provided with the safety lighting device and pressure regulating means of my present invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional elevational view of the 5 safety pilot lighting arrangement and the pressure regulated valve; and

Figure 3 is a sectional view looking into the interior of the upper valve housing with the diaphragm removed, taken substantially {on the line 3-4 of Figure '2. v

Referring now in detail to the 'drawing, in Figure 1 I have provided a gas range having a plurality of individual open top or grate burners 5, these burners preferably being arranged around a centrally located pressure regulating I means and safety pilot lighting device, indicated at 6.; The gas supply to the range is led in through, the inlet pipe I, which communicates at the rear of the oven with a suitable conduit leading to a 80 source of fuel supply. The fuel passes through the conduit I and the pressure regulating valve mechanism I and through a suitable conduit leading to, the gas supply manifold positioned at the front of the range; From the manifold, suitable conduits lead to the individual burners i and to 40 Considering now in detail the safety lighting device and pressure control 8, this device comprises the lower valve housing ll, this, housing having an inlet chamber II and an outlet chamber l2. Threaded into the inlet chamber I l is the gas inlet conduit I, which conducts the fuel to 4 the valve. A suitable outlet conduit I3 is threaded into the outlet chamber l2, and leads to the gas supply manifold positioned at the front of the range. From the gas supply manifold, the gas 5 passes through :fsuitable conduits, such as the conduit ['4 shown in Figure 1, to the grate burners 5, these burners being of the usual type provided with a plurality of ports II as is well known;, The

ing l1 having a beveled face l8 forming a valve seat for the valve l9. A cap member 26 is threaded into the lower portion of the valve housing l6, and permits ready access to the valve seat I8 and the valve l9.

The valve I9 is mounted upon a valve stem 2|, which has a retaining nut 22 threaded on the bottom thereof for securing the valve member l9 in abutting engagement with the valve stem bushing 23. The bushing 23 passes through a suitable opening formed in a horizontal partition wall 24 formed in the lower valve housing, and at its upper end engages a washer 25 which surrounds the valve stem 2|, the washer 25 bearing against the lower surface of a suitable diaphragm 26.

The diaphragm 26 may be formed of any suitable material, such as leather, thin sheet metal,

rubber or the like, and is provided with a cenannular shoulder'36 formed on the lower valve housing, and a second annular peripheral shoulder 3| formed integral with the upper valve housing 32. Suitable cap bolts 33 are threaded into the peripheral flanges of the housings for securing the diaphragm in gas tight engagemen therebetween.

The upper valve housing 32 is substantially dome-shaped, and is provided at one side thereof with a lateral extension '34, which has a communicating channel or'by-pass opening 35 formed therein. This by-pass 35 communicates at its lower end through a suitable hole 36 formed in the flange 29 of the diaphragm 26 with a second bypass channel 31 formed in the lower valve housing l6. At its upper end the channel 35 communicates with a by-pass 38 formed in a lateral extension 39 of the upper valve housing and with the horizontal passageway 46 leading to a substantially cylindrical recess 4| formed in the upper portion of the housing 32. A suitable tapered metering screw 42 is threaded into the projection 39 of the housing 32 so as to control cess 45 formed'therein, and being provided at its lower end with an annular groove 46. The stem 2| is secured in the recess 45 by means of a washer or annular ring 41 engaged in a groove formed in the inwardly extending end of the stem. The bushing is slidably mounted in a plug 46 threaded into the lower end of the recess 4|. Adjacent its upper end, the bushing 44 is provided with an annular collar. or flanged portion 49, and a spring 56 encircles the bushing and is biased at one end against the plug 48, and at its other end against the flanged collar 49.

At its upper end, the recess 4| is provided with a threaded tip 52, the tip 52 havinga central passage 53 extending therethrough and forming, at its upper end, a pilot flame port. together with the integrallyformed cylindrical portion 54, the portion 54 beingprovidedwith lateral air openings 54' for forming an eflective pilot flame o! the Bunsen formed therein, which is provided-with an openburner type, the flame being indicated by the reference numeral 55.

Secured between the top of the extending portion 39 of the upper valv'e housing 32 and the tip 52 is one end of a thermally sensitive member 51, this member being formed of two strips of metal suitably secured together, the strips-having different coeflicients of expansion for a purpose to be hereinafter explained.

The thermally sensitive member- 51 extends upwardly from its mounting under the tip 52, adjacent the pilot flame 55, and is subjected to the heat thereof, and is then doubled back upon itself and extends downwardly through a recess 56 formed in the housing 32 and at its lower end engages about a collar 59 carried by the latch pin 66.

At its upper end, the housing 32 is provided with a hood 62, the hood terminating at its upper end in a plurality of lateral tubular extensions 63, directed toward the surrounding open top or grate burners 5. A suitable vent opening 64 is provided in the hood over the pilot flame 55. A plurality of lighter tubes 66 are engaged in each of the tubular extensions 63, and extend overand turn downwardly, as at '61, over one ofthe burner ports |5 of the burners 5. The lighter tubes 66 are preferably slotted at their lower edges, as indicatedat 61, for permitting free access of air thereto.

When one of the gas cocks is opened to permit fuel to flow to a preselected burner 5, the gas issuing from the port I5 is carried through the tube 66 to the pilot flame 55, and is ignited by the flame. The flame then passes back through the tube 66 and ignites the burner 5. The slots 61 formed in the lighter tubes are.for the purpose of supplying sufllcient air to maintain the projected fiameto the burner. A latching button 69 is mounted for vertical movement in the recess 76 formed in the valve housing 32, and is-provided with-the latch groove 1|- which, when the.

latch button 69 is depressed, is engaged by the pin 66 for holding the button in depressed position. The button 69 is connected by pin 12 to a suitable lever 13. supported upon a pivot 14- mounted within the valve housing 32. At its other end, the lever 13 has a bifurcated end 14' engaging, by means of pins 15, shown in Figure 3, in the groove 46 formed in the lower end of the bushing 44.

In operation, gas is supplied, through the conduit 1, to the inlet chamber ll of the lower valve housing l6. The latch button 69' is then held in depressed position, which allows the valve 9 to open. From the inlet chamber, gas then passes through the valve opening in the wall I6 and the openings 16 formed in the partition wall 24.into the lower diaphragm chamber 11. A portion of the gasadmitted through the chamber 11 passes through the channels 31 and 35 and up to the burner tip port 53. The gas issuing from the port 53 is ignited, producing the pilot flame 55. The expansion of the thermally sensitive member 51, due to the heat of the pilot flame, serves to engage the latching pin 66 in the groove 1| formed in the latching button.

The depression of the latching button 69 forces the latch lever 13 downwardly about the pivot 14, and, because of its connection to the bushing 44,

compression of the spring 56. of the pin 66 in the groove 1| serves to maintain the bushing 44 in its lowermost position, and the valve stem 2| is then free to move upwardly or downwardly within the recess 45 01' the bushing.

outlet chamber H of the lower valve housing l0,

and through the conduit I3 to the gas manifold, and is admitted to each of the burners 5 by means of the gas cocks 8, as previously explained. The burners 5 are ignited, as pointed out above, by the projection of gas through the' lighter tube 66 to the pilot flame, and the reprojection i a lighting flame back to the port of the burner. The mass of the weighted member 21 will determine the pressure at which gas is admitted to the burner, since this mass will be balanced by the pressure in chamber 11 at any desired point. It is obvious that for lower pressures, the mass of the member 21 may be reduced, and for higher pressures the mass may be increased, and the pressure desired in theburner can be maintained by making the'mass of the member 21 plus the weight of the valve stem 2|, the valve l9, and the associated parts, such that the pressure of gas flowing through the valve willbalance this weight at a point which will permit the valve I! to allow gas to flow to the outlet chamber l2.

If the pilot flame 55 should become accidentally extinguished, the thermally sensitive member 51 will cool and contract, withdrawing the latch pin 50 from the latch groove ll of the latching button 59, and the compression of the spring 50 will force the latch lever 13, together with the bushing 44, upwardly, the valve stem -2I engaging in the lower portion of the recess 45 of the bushing and being drawn to closed position as the latching button is released.-

pact unit presents certain economical and structural advantages, such as the disposition of the device in the open or grate portion of a gas range, which is ordinarily occupied by only the pilot light, where the device will be accessible and yet not .in the way.

I claim:

1. In a device of theclass described, a lower valve housing having inlet and outlet chambers, an upper housing having a recess, a diaphragm secured between said housings. means whereby said diaphragm is subjected to pressures in said outlet chamber, a valve in said lower valve housing and having a stem secured toand extending through said diaphragm into said recess in said upper housing, port means for maintaining a pilot flame positioned above said recess, a bushing slidable in said recess and having a recessed portion in which said valve stem is engaged, spring means normally urging said bushing upwardly,

latching means for holding said bushing in depressed position, said valve stem having free sliding movement with respect to said bushing only when said bushing is depressed, and thermally sensitive means secured about said pilot means operative to hold said latching means in depressed position when said pilot flame is burning, said thermally sensitive means releasing said latching bushing to close said valve when said flame is extinguished.

2. In combination, a pair of housings, a diaphragm secured therebetween, inlet and outlet chambers in one of said housings, a valve disposed between said inlet and outlet chambers and having an extending stem secured to and extending through said diaphragm and into said other housing, a pressure chamber between said first housing and said diaphragm open to said outlet chamber, pilot flame maintaining means carried by the second housing and receiving fuel from said pressure chamber, a recessed bushing slidably mounted in the second housing, the extending end of said valve stem entering the recess in said bushing, spring means normally urging said bushing upwardly to close said valve, means for holding said bushing in lowermost position,

and thermally sensitive means forreleasing said holding means upon extinguishment of said pilot flame, said stern being freely slidable with respect to said bushing in said lowermost position to actuate said valve in accordance with the pressure in said outlet chamber.

3. In combination, a .pair of housings, a diaphragm secured therebetween, a valve in one of said housings and having a stem secured to and extending through 'said diaphragm into said other housing, means whereby said diaphragm is subject to the pressure in said valve housing,

means supported on said other housing for maintaining a pilot flame, a recessed bushing slidably mounted inthe other housing, the extending end 'of said valve stem being securedwithin said bushing, spring. means normally urging said bushing in one direction, latching means for holding said bushing against movement, and thermally sensitive means responsive to said pilot flame for releasing said latching means.

4. In combination, a pair of housings, a valve in one of said housings, a diaphragm secured between said housings, means whereby said diaphragm is subject to the pressure in said valve housing, a recess in the other of said housings, said valve having a stem secured to and extending through said diaphragm and into said recess in said other housing, means supported at the upper end of said recess for maintaining a pilot flame, a plug for closing the lower end of said recess, a bushing slidable in said plug and receiving said valve stem, said bushing having an annular collar at each end thereof, a spring in said recess encircling said bushing and biased between said plug and one of said collars for urging said bushing upwardly to close said valve, latching means for holding said bushing against upward movement, and thermally sensitive means responsive to said pilot flame for releasing said latching means to .effect closing of said valve.

5. In combination, a pair of housings, one of said housings having inlet and outlet chambers, a diaphragm secured between said housings, a valve in one of said housings and having its undersurface subjected to the pressures in said outlet chamber and having a stem secured to and extending through said diaphragm into said other housing, pilot flame means carried by said other housing, a bushing slidably mounted in said other housing and having means for locking'the extending end of said stem against withdrawal therefrom, said bushing having an annular collar adjacent its lower end, spring means normally urging said bushing upwardly, a latching lever pivoted in said other housing and '6. In combination, a burner, a fuel supply line therefor, a valve housing disposed in said fuel supply line and having inlet and outlet openings therein, a second housing secured to said first housing, a diaphragm secured between said housings, means provided for communica-- tion betweensaid outlet opening and the underside of said diaphragm, a valve seat in said first housing, a valve therefor, a stem secured to and extending through said diaphragm into said second housing, a weight on the upper surface of said diaphragm tending to open said valve, latching means carried by said second housing and adapted in engaged position to provide for free movement of said valve in accordance with pressure variations on said diaphragm, means carried by said latching means and engaging said valve stem and normally urged upwardly for closing said valve upon disengagement of said latching means, and means for releasing said latching means.

7. The combination with a burner having a fuel supply line, and ignition means for said burner including means for maintaining a constantly burning pilot flame, of pressure regulating means in said fuel supply line having inlet and outlet chambers, means leading from said outlet chamber to said pilot means for supplying fuel thereto, a diaphragm valve between said chambers, means whereby said diaphragm is subjected on its undersurface to the pressure in said outlet chamber and having an upwardly projecting stem extending into proximity to said pilot means, a slidable member receiving the upper end of said valve stem and normally urged upwardly to close said valve, latching means for holding said member against upward movement, said valve stem having free sliding move- .ment with respect to said member in its latched recessed portion and providing for limited reciprocatory movement of said valve stem therein when said bushing is in lowermost position, spring means normally urging said bushing upwardly to close said valve, latching means for holding said bushing against upward movement, and thermally sensitive means engaging said latching means for controlling movement thereof.

9. In a pressure regulating valve having an extending valve stem, a bushing receiving the upper end of said stem and having lost motion connection therewith, a housing having a recessed portion receiving said bushing for reciprocatory movement therein, spring means encircling said bushing and normally urging it into position to close said valve, latching means including a grooved plunger member for holding said bushing away from valve closirm position, and thermally sensitive means engaging in the groove in said plunger for releasably locking said latching means in position.

HAROLD A. MANTZ. 

